Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - Storms and their effects . . .

The L52 submarine was adrift in the Bristol Channel for two days before coming ashore at Sully foreshore during September 1935. She was under tow of the tug 'Pressman' en route from Portsmouth to Llanelli for scrapping. After a few days rest ashore at Sully she was finally towed to meet the oxy-acetylene torches! A fine image from the wonderful book by David Ings named 'Penarth - in old picture postcards volume 2' The writing is by a lady who was given the book by Howard and Debbie at Christmas 1993, so from her comments, I make the lady to have been born in 1924. [331]

'Pilton' owned by Tatems at Cardiff was inbound from Naples to Barry during December 1924. A SW gale drove her ashore which allowed the locals to help themselves to a free supply of coal! Now I'm not suggesting for one moment that residents of Sully are anything but honest and upright, but my mother-in-law lived (the original Welsh Dragon) there for a while! She, (the ship, not the mother-in-law!) was refloated the following May and towed to Barry for repair before being placed back in service. The lower image has been colourised. [331]

Another view of the s.s. 'Pilton' ashore at Sully beach with Sully Island on the distant right of the photograph. The image was kindly supplied by a contributor to the Penarth Dock website whom would prefer to remain anon! [000] [002]

s.s. 'Pilton' ashore at Sully - a view from the bow! This photograph is held within the Peoples Collection Wales [048] and was uploaded by the Vale of Glamorgan Libraries [655]. The text states that the year was 1922 and that it took two months to refloat her. So, we have a contradiction re the year plus the length of time to refloat her - can anybody provide the correct answers please?